PINZ is New Zealand’s Centre for UNESCO’s International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC). Established in September 2000, UNEVOC is dedicated to developing and improving technical and vocational education and training in UNESCO’s Member States. Its focus is on information exchange, networking and international cooperation. Support for capacity building, including human resource development and staff training, international and regional cooperation in the field of technical and vocational education and training are key concerns of UNESCO-UNEVOC agencies. The range and reach of activities implemented by the Centre is steadily growing. Having commenced with activities in Southern Africa and the Pacific, project implementation is expanding to include West Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, the Arab States and the Small Pacific Island States.

Facilitating inter-agency collaboration

PINZ's key role is in assisting the UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre to become a platform for interagency cooperation and exchange. PINZ realises this commitment, via the company’s partnerships with other UN organizations, and development agencies, governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.

The roles of UNEVOC are:

Knowledge Management (www.unevoc.unesco.org/forum)

The Centre manages the E-Forum, a worldwide e-mail list that comprises experts and stakeholders in TVET. It is regularly fed with information from participants for participants, facilitated by the Centre. The constant flow of information brings together those who know with those who need to know, be they Member States, institutions or individuals.

Publications (www.unevoc.unesco.org/publications)

The Centre also relies on more traditional forms of information sharing. It publishes books and monographs, proceedings and conferences, seminars and workshops. These documents are available on the web and can also be requested in paper format or on CD-ROM.

Bulletin (www.unevoc.unesco.org/bulletin)

The UNESCO-UNEVOC bulletin is currently published in English, French, Arabic and Spanish. It is the Center’s newsletter to communicate with individual experts and institutions in the field of TVET, across approximately 150 countries worldwide.

UNEVOC also has a website which offers information about TVET, the Center’s activities and its publications. It also serves as a means to disseminate information and knowledge related to innovation, ideas and experience in technical and vocational education.

UNESCO-UNEVOC Asia-Pacific Sub-Regional Symposium (Report)

As a prelude to the 2009 World Conference on Education and Sustainable Development, PINZ Chief Executive, Mr Honѐ McGregor, participated in the recent UNESCO-UNEVOC Asia-Pacific Sub-Regional Symposium on Re-Establishing Skills Development for Employment, Citizenship and Sustainability: Priorities and Challenges. The symposium was hosted by Melbourne’s RMIT University in Australia. The Symposium Report (edited by RMIT Professor John Fien) is attached, and outlines UNEVOC Centre Case Studies, as well as the roundtable discussions on the key trends in TVET for our region and internationally.